Work in Progress

Robert Thorne

08/16/2008

CLEMSON - CUTigers.com caught up with offensive line leader Thomas Austin after the scrimmage. Austin discusses Saturday's scrimmage, the readiness of the offensive line for Bama, the starting five and much more.

How did the offensive line do today?Austin: I think we did a pretty good job. We started off and drove all the way down the field and scored a touchdown. Then after that we kind of broke up the continuity a little bit. I was out from center and Barry played center, Jamarcus was out and we had Mason at guard. We are trying to find some young guys. I think we have our starting five pretty much solidified with Jamarcus, Barry, Chris, Corey and myself. Now I think coach Scott is working on trying to find that 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th player so if someone gets injured we know who is stepping up. Today was not your typical scrimmage because Cullen was out after a couple of series and Willy was in there, JD wasn't in there. We are just trying to mix and match and see who is ready to stepup and be in there in case something happens.

Now that you are taking a leadership role, how has that changed things for you?Austin: Well it kind of happened half way through the year. I went from a sophomore looking up to all of those guys and then bam I was in there at center. Just by the nature of the position you have there are certain responsibilities. So I got to carry that though the offseason, the spring and this summer. There are a bunch of hard working guys. Coach Scott has been very pleased with the work ethic of the guys. We don't always win every time, but we compete and get after it hard. That is the good thing about young players. Everyone is fighting for a spot.

How are the redshirt freshmen doing?Austin: I think they are doing really well. Mason is a guy that can play center or guard. I'd say he is probably our number six player right now. David was hurt for a while so he is kind of stepping up and just now getting back and doing well. Wilson Norris is doing well. He is a guy that is a little more raw, but a great, great run blocker. He has a little work to do on his pass protection. Landon is really working on his kick work and his footsteps and stuff like that for pass protection. He goes against great defensive ends every day in practice. That is definitely good for Landon. Those four redshirt guys are doing pretty well.

How do you feel the offensive line is ready for Alabama?Austin: Well we are not nearly ready yet, but I think we have the work ethic that it takes to get there. As we start to prepare for Alabama, we are kind of moving through the camp stage. I think it is really going to help us to start honing our plays down and figure out what we are going to use against Alabama. We will start working on getting our package ready and make our selves as ready as we can.

How do you feel the offensive line is ready for Alabama?Austin: Yeah, the first couple of weeks of camp you run three groups all the time to try to see who is ready to play and who is not. Today after the scrimmage coach Scott will probably analyze the scrimmage and say here are my top ten or twelve players. He will say this is what we need to do to get ready for Alabama and these are the schemes that we are going to use. Starting Monday we will do a lot more technique work and working on our drill work getting those ten or 12 guys ready to play.

\r\n\r\n\r\nHow did the offensive line do today?\r\nAustin: I think we did a pretty good job. We started off and drove all the way down the field and scored a touchdown. Then after that we kind of broke up the continuity a little bit. I was out from center and Barry played center, Jamarcus was out and we had Mason at guard. We are trying to find some young guys. I think we have our starting five pretty much solidified with Jamarcus, Barry, Chris, Corey and myself. Now I think coach Scott is working on trying to find that 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th player so if someone gets injured we know who is stepping up. Today was not your typical scrimmage because Cullen was out after a couple of series and Willy was in there, JD wasn't in there. We are just trying to mix and match and see who is ready to stepup and be in there in case something happens.

\r\n\r\nNow that you are taking a leadership role, how has that changed things for you?\r\nAustin: Well it kind of happened half way through the year. I went from a sophomore looking up to all of those guys and then bam I was in there at center. Just by the nature of the position you have there are certain responsibilities. So I got to carry that though the offseason, the spring and this summer. There are a bunch of hard working guys. Coach Scott has been very pleased with the work ethic of the guys. We don't always win every time, but we compete and get after it hard. That is the good thing about young players. Everyone is fighting for a spot.

\r\n\r\nHow are the redshirt freshmen doing?\r\nAustin: I think they are doing really well. Mason is a guy that can play center or guard. I'd say he is probably our number six player right now. David was hurt for a while so he is kind of stepping up and just now getting back and doing well. Wilson Norris is doing well. He is a guy that is a little more raw, but a great, great run blocker. He has a little work to do on his pass protection. Landon is really working on his kick work and his footsteps and stuff like that for pass protection. He goes against great defensive ends every day in practice. That is definitely good for Landon. Those four redshirt guys are doing pretty well.

\r\n\r\nHow do you feel the offensive line is ready for Alabama?\r\nAustin: Well we are not nearly ready yet, but I think we have the work ethic that it takes to get there. As we start to prepare for Alabama, we are kind of moving through the camp stage. I think it is really going to help us to start honing our plays down and figure out what we are going to use against Alabama. We will start working on getting our package ready and make our selves as ready as we can.

\r\n\r\nHow do you feel the offensive line is ready for Alabama?\r\nAustin: Yeah, the first couple of weeks of camp you run three groups all the time to try to see who is ready to play and who is not. Today after the scrimmage coach Scott will probably analyze the scrimmage and say here are my top ten or twelve players. He will say this is what we need to do to get ready for Alabama and these are the schemes that we are going to use. Starting Monday we will do a lot more technique work and working on our drill work getting those ten or 12 guys ready to play.